Dr. Maxwell Maltz, writing in his Psycho-Cybernetics classic, demonstrates how our brain and nervous system (or subconscious) work together as a goal-striving mechanism that operates automatically to achieve any goal we set before it, automatically making directional corrections as needed, much like a self-guided torpedo operates.

I like to recap the basic principles by which the Creative Success Mechanism works, as put forward by Dr Maltz:'

"1. Your built-in Creative Success Mechanism must have a goal or target. It must be conceived of as “already in existence now,” either in actual or potential form.

Your Creative Success Mechanism either steers you toward a goal already in existence (like a torpedo) or it ‘discovers’ something already in existence.

2. Your Creative Success Mechanism is teleological, that is, it operates or must be oriented to ‘end results.’ Do not be discouraged if the means to the solution are not apparent.

It is the function of the automatic mechanism (sub-conscious) to supply the means for the goal we set. Think of the goal, and means will often take care of themselves.

But be cautioned, many people interfere with or defeat their Creative Success Mechanism by demanding a how before a goal is clearly established. Once the mental image of the goal is clearly established, the how will come to you.

I have experienced this reality quite recently as I set a goal to eliminate a nettlesome business debt.

Once the goal was truly imagined and embraced, creative ways to eliminate that debt tumbled into my consciousness like never before. Progress has been remarkable.

3. Do not be afraid of making mistakes or temporary failures. It’s the way servo mechanisms work – on negative feedback, or by going forward, making mistakes and immediately correcting course.

4. Skill learning is accomplished by trial and error, mentally correcting aim after an error, until a ‘successful’ motion, movement, or performance is achieved.

After that, continued success is accomplished by forgetting the past errors, and remembering the successful response, so that it can be imitated.

5. You must learn to trust your Creative Success Mechanism to do its work and not “jam it” by becoming too concerned or too anxious as to whether it will work or not, or by attempting to force it by too much conscious effort. You must “let it” work rather than “make it” work.

The Creative Success Mechanism operates below the level of consciousness, so you cannot ‘know’ what is going on beneath the surface. Moreover, its nature is to operate spontaneously according to present need.

There are no guarantees in advance. It comes into action as you act and as you place demand on it by your actions."